Opposition Parties Face Crisis As INEC Candidate Upload Deadline Expires Amid Leadership Disputes

Opposition Parties Face Crisis as INEC Candidate Upload Deadline Expires Amid Leadership Disputes Nigeria’s opposition parties are facing uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections following the expiration of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s INEC deadline for the submission and upload of candidates’ details, with unresolved leadership disputes and court battles threatening some parties’ preparations. The deadline expired on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after INEC granted political parties an extension to complete the upload of presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives candidates’ information on its nomination portal. The extension was granted following complaints from parties over technical challenges during the initial process. The African Democratic Congress ADC has emerged as one of the parties at the centre of the controversy after conflicting court rulings over its leadership structure created uncertainty over which faction has the authority to manage party affairs and submit candidates to INEC. The Court of Appeal in Abuja recently upheld a ruling restricting INEC from recognising congresses and national convention activities conducted by the faction led by Senator David Mark, affirming that the party’s elected state executives remained valid pending properly conducted processes. The court ruling has further complicated the party’s internal crisis. However, the ADC has rejected claims that the judgment affects the validity of its candidates, saying it has appealed the decision at the Supreme Court. The party insists that the ruling concerns internal party structures and does not invalidate the direct primaries through which its candidates emerged.

The party has also denied allegations that a rival group carried out an unauthorised upload of candidates’ names to the INEC portal, alleging that documents linked to such claims were forged and calling on relevant authorities to investigate. Beyond the ADC, other opposition parties including the Social Democratic Party SDP and several smaller political parties have faced challenges linked to leadership disputes, registration issues and pending litigation. The SDP, however, said it had resolved its internal crisis and was working to regularise its candidate submissions. Political stakeholders have warned that prolonged legal disputes and uncertainty over party leadership could affect preparations for the 2027 elections and raise concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.

As political parties move beyond the nomination stage, attention is expected to shift to INEC’s review of submitted candidates and the possible legal challenges that may arise from disputed nominations.